How far have we come since Aristotle?

Erstwhile biologist, now philosopher, Massimo Pigliucci explores the latest attempts to find the meaning of life in Answers for Aristotle

THE Astronomer Royal, Martin Rees, remarked in 2010 that "we are no wiser than Aristotle was" - for all our technical advances since the time of the ancient Greeks. If you disagree, try reading Answers for Aristotle by Massimo Pigliucci, a former biologist, who is now a professor of philosophy at the City University of New York.

"Aristotle was among the first to approach the big questions in both a philosophical and a scientific manner, and we are now beginning to have some good (if provisional) answers to those questions," Pigliucci claims. This view inspires his own approach, which he calls "sci-phi": a blend of empirical analysis and armchair thoughts about values.

Throughout, he draws on Aristotle and a score of other philosophers, and on the evidence of the past ...

To continue reading this article, subscribe to receive access to all of newscientist.com, including 20 years of archive content.

To continue reading this article, log in or subscribe to New Scientist

App + web

Web

Smartphone

Tablet

$25.99 - Save 65%

12 issues for $2.17 per issue

with continuous service

Print + web

Print

Web

$28.99 - Save 61%

12 issues for $2.42 per issue

with continuous service

Print + app + web

Print

Web

Smartphone

Tablet

$39.99 - Save 73%

12 issues for $3.33 per issue

with continuous service

Web

Web only

$49.99

30 day web pass

Prices may vary according to delivery country and associated local taxes.